Carton sealing machine



July 18 1950 l F. M. wlLLBRANDT 2,515,620

CARTON SEALING MACHINE Filed Sept. 15, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'f @m MMXJuly 18, 1950 F. M. WILLBRANDT v2,515,620`

CARTON SEALING MACHINE Filed Sept. l5, 1947 2 Sheets-SheetI 2 AVM/weyPatented July 18, 1950 Franklin M. Wiubranat, Baule creek, Mich., as,-signor to. Battle Creek Bread Wrapping Machine Company, Battle Creek,Mich.r

Application september 15,1947, serial No. 773,947

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a carton sealing machine. l l

The principal objects ofthis invention are:

First, to provide `a semi-automatic sealing machine for rapidly closingand sealingfoodcartons or the like and theliner `bag positioned withinthe cartons. l V- y b i Second, l to provide a relatively inexpensivesealing machine which will reduce the number of motions and timerequired for an operator to seal a liner bag and enclose the bag in asealable, foldable carton. y L

Third, to provide a work table or support for foldable cartons `whichwill facilitate the erecting of the cartons and heat sealing ofthecartons and liner bags positioned therein.

Fourth, to provide va semi-automatic folding and sealing machine whichis readily adjustable to accommodate cartons of differentsizes.

Fifth, to provide a semi-automaticpfolding and sealing machine which maybe manufactured at `low cost. l

Other objects and advantages pertaining to the details and economies ofthe invention will be apparent from the following description andclaims. Y, l

The drawings, of which there are two sheets, illustrate a preferred formof my sealing machine and one example of the type of carton and linerwhich it is designed to fold and seal. i

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the sealing machine.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional View along the line 2 2 of Figliand showing the machine in the first step of the sealing operation.

Fig. 3 is an enlargedfragmentary elevational View of the bag crimpingjaws illustrated in Fig. 2. l Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross sectionalview along the line 4 4 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view along the line 5-5 in Fig.`1. l l

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary cross sectional view valong the line 6 6 in Fig.1 and showing a carton ready to be set throughthe automatic portion ofthe sealing machine.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view similar to Fig.6 but showing the sealing machine at a second step in the manual sealingoperation. 4

Figs. 8, 9 and l0 are fragmentary perspective views of one form ofcarton which the machine is arranged to seal in successive .stepsof thefolding operation.

My sealing machine is particularly designed for relatively small foodpackaging establish- V,ductionv does not warrant the installation ofexpensive automatic packing machinery but whose ecsts can be greatlyreduced by increasing the output ofv Workersmpackaging the companysproduct.

My machine is designed to form part of the folds and seals in afoldable'outer carton and an inner bag or liner to eliminate severalmotions on the part of the operator performing `.the manual portions ofthepacking and sealing operation. Y

My sealing device consists of a pair of frame members I having raisedparallel side rails 2 which are connected by `a series of fivetransversely extending top panels 3 screwed or other- Wise securedy tothe tops of the rails. The top panelsfare spaced to define a series oftransverse slots e therebetween andthe frame members I are furtherconnected beneath the top panels by a ypair of transversely extendingguide rods 5. The` frame is arranged to be supported upon a base or work.table at a convenient height in front of theoperator.

b Slidably `mounted on the guide rods 5 are a pair of longitudinallyextending parallel support bars I which extend beneath the slots 4 inthe ,lli which commences at'the surface of the top panels.

The support bars l have connected thereto near their rear ends the rearvertical support members Ii which extend laterally outwardly andupwardly through the rear two slots li in the top panels.

The rear support members Il are -connected by means of the` bolts i8 toa pair of sealing plates .i9 having obliquely serrated surfaces asshown. Coil springs 2l! positioned between the sealing plates and therear support members and around the bolts I8 yieldingly urge the sealingplates toward each other and in slightly closer spaced relationshipythanthe fold plates I3. Electrical heating elements ZI` are secured to thebacks of the sealing plates and arranged to be supplied with electric`current through conductors 22.

ments, such as frozen food packers, whose pron-sa Secured totheunderside of one of the top `edge of the top panel 3 asillustrated`in*Fig.'*1

panels 3 and in the middle of the machine is a downwardly extending pin23 around which is rotatably positioned a collar 24. The upper end ofthe collar has secured thereto a double armed crank member 25 havingequal arms extending generally to the front and rear of the machine. Theends of the arms 25 are pivotally connected to links 26 which extendobliquely outwardly and are pivotally connected to the support bars vIypreferably at the mid-points thereof. The lower end of the sleeve 24 issecured as by Welding to a lever 21 which extends 'beyond'thesi'de 'ofthe top panels 4 and is bent upwardly as at 28 (see Fig. 4) to ahorizontalear2'9. v'A 'bracket 38 secured to the side top ra'il 2de'nesfan arcuate slot 3| through which the knurled thumb `screw 32extends to engage the =ear 29 and vreleasably clamp it to the bracket.

Movement of the thumb screw 32 along `th'e arcuate slot 3| rotates thesleeve 24v and crank 25 about the pin`23 causing the links 26 to lmovethe support bars 1 laterally toward 'or 'awayfrom each otheron the guiderods 5. Theend v'folding plates |3 and sealing 'plates I9 being carried'on the support bars are also moved-closer together f or farther apartto accommodatev cartonso'f'vvarying sizes.

Secured to the front of the frame members vare a pair of brackets 33which support a side sealing plate 34 extending transversely andvertically across the front 'of 'the machine. The lower edge of the sidesealing plate is notched or toothed as at 35 and arranged -to cooperatewith a movable jaw member 36 mounted on "the ends of arms 31. The arms31 are fixedly Vmounted on a shaft 38 extending ibetween the straps 39secured to the brackets 33. A link 40 connected to the lever '43 on theshaft `38 extends downwardly to a foot pedal 4| vpermitting the movablejaw -35 to be drawn'y tightly against the toothed edge of the frontsealing plate. sealing plate is provided with an electrical `:heatingelement A42 arranged to be supplied with current through the conductor43. The toothed lower portion of the sealing plate 34 will be heatedalong with the surface of the plate.

Secured to the back ofthe lower 'edge `of `|the sealing plate 34 is asealing bar 44provided with a projecting tongue 45 and a stop plate 4B.The

tongue 45 is arranged'tocooperate with :a transversely grooved bar 41 onthe Aback ofthe movable jaw 36 to heat seal the open end of a liner-bag,heat for the process being obtained byconduction from the side sealingplate 34.

The brackets 33 are provided with pivot "pins '48 which areseoured tothe rearwardly'extending ears 49 formed on the ends of a transversely'extending work support 50 having a forwardly turned ange 5| along thelower edge thereof. Stop pins 52 extend through thebrackets 33 vandstraps 39 to limit the downward movement'of the ears 49 and work supportabout the pivot pins 49 and the top of the worksupport5|J'ispreferablyproportioned so that it will strike the front 4coated so as tobe'heat'sealable. "Oneexample of this-type of carton is'illustrated at53in Figs. *8, 9 `and I'10. For the'purposes of description'the carton isformed of av scoredblank Stamping having top and bottom Vwalls "54,'side-walls5'5and i fro with top end closure naps 56, bottom end closureflaps 51 and side end closure aps 58. A side sealing flap 59 is providedalong the edge of the top panel 54. The side end sealing llaps 58 arescored diagonally as at 6|] and the bottom end sealing ilap is providedwith a triangular score 6|.

The carton just described is arranged to enlclose and support arelatively weak 'bendable liner bag madeof cellophane `or some similarmaterial which is illustrated in exaggerated cross 'sectional thicknessat 82 in Fig. 7. In operating the -machine the operator will take afilled bag 62 and press the open end thereof between the ijaws 36 'asindicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 2. Operation of the foot pedal 4|will then heat seal 'and crimp the end of the bag and while thisvoperation is taking place, the operator may place a partially foldedblank carton on the work support with one hand as indicated in Fig. 2.The sealed bag may then jbe placed on the carton blankon-the worksupportand theftop and-side walls of the carton folded around vthe v'bagand the sealing flap 59 brought down v'over the fback ofthe side wall'80. vDuring this operation the operator will have lboth handsfreestomanipulate the `folds of the carton and the weight 'of the carton andthe contents will be partially supported on the flange 5| of the Vworksupport. When thefolding of thelcartonlis fcomplete 1the 'operator maylift the carton from the work table and place it underneath the flangell'raisingthe work support about its pivots 48 -until the upper edge ofthe plate r5|) strikes the front of the-top -panel 3. The operator maythen press the side sealing lflap "59 against the side sealing plate 434as is clearly shownin Fig. -7. vThelower edge of v*the work table willvact as atop guide and the` loperator may press the carton'rmlyagainstthe sealing plate and slide'fit transversely of the plate'without fear v of slidingfoff the plate l.or 4burning hisfhandson thesealing plate.

After the sides of the carton are sealed Ithe carton `is placed on thefront of thetop'panel as illustrated in Fig. 6. The wor-k support willfall back in front of the sealing plate 34 as a shield and the top endclosure flaps 58 are manually :folded 'downwardly forming -triangular-folds in the side end ilapsf58 as shown in Fig. 9. The side end closureflaps are then folded inwardly as shown in Fig. 9 forming-triangular'foldsin the bottom end flaps. These foldsrare conveniently 4made ateach end of the carton at the Sametime, fthe 'operator 'having 'bothhands free and the lweightof the carton being supported onthe top panel.The-bottom end closure panels now lie -on the surface ofthe front topvpanel3 and the Apartially folded carton may be pressed bythe operatorbetween the end folding plates I3 -where rthe curved slot I6 will pickup the end sealing iiaps and fold them upwardly as the carlton ispushed-'between the plates. After the end folding Vvplates have foldedthe lbottom naps .53 against fthe'ends offthe carton, -the carton may beslidl on between the end sealing plates I3 to heat' seal the end flapsof -thecarton In continued operation, l'of coursefthefoperator wouldmerely start one carton through the end folding plates andrepeat hisside sealing and folding operations to imme- -diately place anothercarton between the end "folding plates, each 4succeeding rcarton pushingthe preceding carton ahead'ofit.

From the above description it should be ap- :parent that the sealingmachine eliminates a great -many of the folding, holdingand turningmotions :required -to seal a bag and vcarton-entirely by hand. All ofthe operators motions are performed directly in front of him and thereis no necessity for turning the carton end for end or holding one foldWhile another fold is being sealed. The machine will therefore increasethe output of each operator materially and at a relatively smallinvestment of capital since the sealing machine is simple andinexpensive to manufacture and is adjustable for sealing various sizesof cartons.

It should be understood that the particular carton illustrated is anexample only and that other cartons having different folds may besubstituted therefor. The terms, end, side, top and bottom as applied tothe parts of the carton are used for convenience in description only andcartons having other relative proportions may be used. I have describedmy invention in a highly practical commercial embodiment thereof andhave not attempted to show other modifications as it is felt thatpersons skilled in the art can make such changes as are desired withoutfurther disclosure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a sealing device for cartons and the like havinga base with top panels and folding and sealing plates adjustably mountedon top thereof, a pair of brackets extending from the front of saidbase, a side sealing plate supported between said brackets andvertically along the front of said device, a plurality of teeth formedalong the lower edge of said sealing plate, a jaw member having teethcooperative with said teeth on said side sealing plate pivotallysupported on said brackets, an electrical heating unit associated withsaid sealing plate and adapted to heat said plate and teeth for heatsealing a carton and crimping and sealing a liner bag. a work supportcomprising a generally vertical back plate with a forwardly turnedflange along the lower edge thereof pivotally mounted on said bracketsby means of ears turned backwardly from the ends of said back plate,said work support being tiltable from a lowered position in front ofsaid side sealing plate to a raised position against said top panel toexpose said side sealing plate and form an upper guide surfacethereabove, and a foot pedal for operating said jaw member.

2. In combination with a sealing device for cartons and the like havinga frame with top panels and folding and sealing plates adjustablymounted on top thereof, a pair of brackets extending from the front ofsaid frame, a side sealing plate supported between said brackets andvertically along the front of said device, a, jaw member cooperativewith the lower edge of said side sealing plate pivotally supported onsaid brackets, an electrical heating unit associated with said sealingplate and adapted to heat said plate for heat sealing a carton andsealing a liner bag, and a work support comprising a generally verticalback plate with a forwardly turned flange along the lower edge thereofpivotally mounted on said brackets by means of ears turned backwardlyfrom the ends of said back plate, said Work support being tiltable froma lowered position in front of said side sealing plate to a raisedposition to expose said side sealing plate.

3. A. semi-automatic folding and sealing device for closing cartonscomprising a frame, flap folding and sealing plates adjustably mountedon top of said frame, a at panel on said frame in front `of said plates,a manually operable sealing plate mounted on the front of said framebelow the front of said panel, and an angle shaped work supportingmember pivotally mounted on the front of said frame and swingablebetween a lower shielding position in front of said manually operablesealing plate and a raised position against said panel exposing saidmanually operable sealing plate and acting asa guide for a cartonpressed against the under side of said supporting member.

4. A semi-automatic folding and sealing device for closing cartonscomprising a frame, flap folding and sealing plates adjustably mountedon top of said frame, a manually operable sealing plate mounted on thefront of said frame, and a work supporting member pivotally mounted onthe front of said frame and swingable between a lower shielding positionin front of said manually operable sealing plate and a raised positionexposing said manually operable sealing plate and acting as a guide fora carton pressed thereagainst.

FRANKLIN M. WILLBRANDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTSI Number Name Date 1,008,651 Korn" Nov. 14, 19111,081,560 Streich 1 Dec. 16, 1913 1,674,408 Metcalf June 19, 19281,787,116 Marasso Dec. 30, 1930 1,949,764 Schreiber et al. Mar. 6, 19341,981,503 Goeckeler et al. Nov. 20, 1934 2,103,945 Henley Dec. 28, 19372,171,459 Thompson Aug. 29, 1939 2,352,445 Pinckney June 27, 19442,395,387 Fry et al. Feb. 26, 1946

